The Department of Physics has an active theoretical physics program that focuses on
gravitational physics and field theory. We have ongoing collaborations with several
international research groups including the Institute of Applied Physics of the Academy
of Sciences of Moldova, Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University, the Center for Gravitation
and Fundamental Metrology (VNIIMS) at the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia,
and the Universidad de Costa Rica. Our students in this area regularly attend national
and international conferences to give talks, and they are active in publishing their
research work in refereed journals. Several international researchers have visited
our department and engaged in collaborative research, colloquia, and seminars.

Courses

Physics

EHD 154B. Final Student Teaching Seminar - Physical Science

Prerequisites: Concurrent enrollment in EHD 155B. Seminar to accompany final student
teaching that provides opportunities for candidates to investigate and discuss variety
of topics and strategies and to reflect on issues that surface during their student
teaching experience.

Units: 1

EHD 155B. Studt Tchg P Sci

Prerequisites: admission to student teaching, EHD 155A, CI 161 (or concurrently, depending
on major departmental policy); senior or post baccalaureate standing; approval of
major department including subject matter competency approval; completion of the subject
matter preparation program or passing the subject matter examination(s) designated
by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Supervised teaching in single
subject classroom; assignment is for the full day; five days per week. CR/NC grading
only.

PHYS 10. Conceptual Physics

Prerequisite:G.E. Foundation B4 (except for those with declared majors in the College
of Science and Mathematics.) Basic ideas of physics and their relationship to the
everyday environment. Physical phenomena, misconceptions, terminology, scientific
method, and metric system. Memorable demonstrations in lectures; household-related
experiments in the lab. G.E. Breadth B1. (3 lecture, 2 lab hours)

Units: 4Course Typically Offered: Fall, SpringGE Area: B1

PHYS 90. Directed Study

Prerequisite: any university-level physics or physical science course. Individually
arranged course of study in some limited area of physics, either to remove a deficiency
or to in vestigate in more depth. (1-2 hours to be arranged)

PHYS 102. Modern Physics

Prerequisite: PHYS 4C; MATH 81 (may be taken concurrently). Fundamental concepts of
atomic and nuclear structure, transitions and radiation. Includes discussions of relativistic
mechanics, quantum mechanics, solid state physics. Special topics as they pertain
to modern developments in physic, engineering, and chemistry.

PHYS 175T. Topics in Contemporary Physics

Designed to provide students with special work in such areas of physics as biophysics,
modern optics, plasmas, high energy physics, solid state, chaos theory, nuclear structure,
astrophysics, low temperature phenomena. Some topics may have labs.

Units: 1-4, Repeatable up to 12 units

PHYS 175T. Introduction to Particle Physics

This course will serve as an introduction to particle physics and the ATLAS (A Toroidal
LHC ApparatuS) experiment of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at the European Organization
for Nuclear Research (CERN). This course is intended for advanced undergraduate students,
especially those who are interested in working at CERN or other ATLAS sites or ATLAS
research projects during summer with CSU ATLAS program..

Units: 3

PHYS 175T. Introduction to Medical Imaging

Introduction to Medical Imaging for Nurses, Physical Therapists and other Professionals
in the Healt
This course will cover an overview of multiple modalities in medical imaging such
as x-rays, nuclear medecine. fluoroscopy, CT, MRI, etc.

Units: 3

PHYS 180. Seminar in Physics

Prerequisite: senior or graduate physics major or permission of department chair.

PHYS 262. Advanced Condensed Matter Physics

PHYS 270. Advanced Mathematical Physics

Prerequisite: PHYS 170A. Group theory, including continuous (Lie) groups, Lie algebras,
and an introduction to the theory of representations, Green's functions and their
applications to physical problems, and integral equations including diagrammatic methods
of solution.

PHYS 275T. Topics in Contemporary Physics

Advanced topics in such areas as modern optics, plasma physics, high energy physics,
astrophysics, nuclear physics, biophysics. Some topics may have labs.

Units: 1-3, Repeatable up to 6 units

PHYS 290. Independent Study

See Academic Placement -- [-LINK-]. Approved for RP grading.

Units: 1-3, Repeatable up to 6 units

PHYS 298. Project

Prerequisite: permission of instructor. Scholarly investigation by the advanced graduate
student as a culminating experience for the master's degree, including a written project
report and an oral defense, and followed by a competency exam. Approved for RP grading.

Units: 2-6

PHYS 298C. Project Continuation

Pre-requisite: Project PHYS 298. For continuous enrollment while completing the project.
May enroll twice with department approval. Additional enrollments must be approved
by the Dean of Graduate Studies.

Units: 0

PHYS 299. Thesis

Prerequisite: See [-LINK-]. Preparation, completion, and submission of an acceptable
thesis for the master's degree. Approved for RP grading.

Units: 2-6

PHYS 299C. Thesis Continuation

Pre-requisite: Thesis PHYS 299. For continuous enrollment while completing the thesis.
May enroll twice with department approval. Additional enrollments must be approved
by the Dean of Graduate Studies.

Units: 0

PSCI 21. Elementary Astronomy

Prerequisite: G.E. Foundation B4 (except for those with declared majors in the College
of Science and Mathematics.)Recommended: second-year high school algebra. Concepts,
theories, important physical principles, and history of astronomy. Stellar properties,
distances, and evolution. Three field trips for observing with telescopes. G.E. Breadth
B1. ( 3 lecture, 2 lab hours) (Course fee, $34)

Notes

Prerequisites may include MATH 75, 76, 77, 81, PHYS 4A, 4AL, 4B, BL, 4C, and 102. All prerequisites must also be completed. Courses in the Astronomy Minor may not
count toward a physics major (or any other major), except as additional requirements
to that major. PHYS 190 may not be counted for more than 2 credits for the Astronomy Minor.

Faculty

Our faculty members are here to teach and to do research. Several faculty members
have research projects involving students. Two of our faculty members do theoretical
work in particle physics and field theory while others are involved with numerous
different experimental research fields; some of our faculty are involved in physics
pedagogy.